Consolidation of Hope

By Doug Lavers

Following on from Rekindling of Hope, this science fiction book moves the story of the Melbourne Institute and its hidden ruler, Peter Shepherd, on toward the next generation.

Peter and his wife, Zoe, continue to deftly control the tide of events while trying desperately to stay in the background. Fortunately for them, their twin children, Tim and Katie, rapidly grow into positions where they become influential.

While the governments of Earth have grudgingly accepted that the institute has overriding authority, nearly two decades of relative peace and stability are threatened when an alien species
known as the Calai approach Earth before the defensive shield that is being constructed can be completed.

The alien superintelligence called the Bearing has decided that it needs to intervene much more directly to stop promising new species from being submerged by conquest. For long-term planning purposes, they need to peaceably associate the human race and the Calai. The overwhelming military strength and determination of the Calai make this association difficult to achieve.

Also as part of their long-term planning, they intend to move human influence to another part of the galaxy.

Tim and Katie are their chosen agents for the next stage of the intervention, and the story traces how they are subtly influenced in the desired direction.

This book moves away from the local political action of Rekindling of Hope onto an interstellar stage. It is a story of planning, character growth, drama, and new possibilities for the human race.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Aug 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482824278

Doug Lavers

An Oxford graduate and retired financial executive, author Doug Lavers used his wealth of knowledge and experience to write the Rejuvenation Series. After originally reading chemistry with a topic in solid-state physics for his thesis, Doug worked at a stock broker’s office for a several years before taking an MBA. He went on to work as an engineering cost analyst and later a money market dealer at Ford’s Research and Engineering Centre. He moved to the South Coast of England, where he met his wife, and the two relocated to Melbourne, Australia. Doug held a number of senior positions in the finance industry before becoming a financial planner. Now retired, he enjoys playing bridge, gardening, reading, travel, and debating green and ecological issues with his daughter.

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Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Doug Lavers.

Cover Design: Karen Phillips, www.PhillipsCovers.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people or events is unintentional except where required for historical background.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

Contents

Acknowledgement

Story So Far

Prelude

Chapter 1    Canadian Holiday

Chapter 2    Fishing Troubles

Chapter 3    Fishing Changes

Chapter 4    Twin Capers

Chapter 5    Medical Practitioner

Chapter 6    Mathematical Physicist

Chapter 7    Military Reflections

Chapter 8    Naval Academy

Chapter 9    Academy Training

Chapter 10    Academy Finish

Chapter 11    Preparing The Defence

Chapter 12    Preparing For Departure

Chapter 13    Discovery

Chapter 14    Trial

Chapter 15    Adjudication

Chapter 16    Consequences

Chapter 17    Integration

Chapter 18    Diplomatic Conclusion

Addendum 1    Selection Of Colonists

Addendum 2    Musings On Ecology

About The Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

T he assistance of Nick Root is gratefully acknowledged.

This book could never have been written without the tolerance and support of my wife Gill.

Melbourne September 2013.

Cover Design: Karen Phillips, www.PhillipsCovers.com

Book 2 Rejuvenation Series ©

STORY SO FAR

T he first book in the series started in the year 2022. Planet Earth was in serious trouble, and an alien super intelligence called The Bearing decided to intervene to stop humanity from imploding. The story traced the political and geophysical issues at play, while following the emotional lives of three key people involved in the plan to avoid disaster.

The Bearing created an artificial intelligence and an alien space station known as Habitat to aid Peter Shepherd whom they appointed Overseer. He was given final responsibility for the future direction of the human race. Peter at his first meeting with the artificial intelligence named her Sheila.

The first part of the plan involved the setting up of an organisation known as the Melbourne Institute to provide leadership and to funnel new technologies into the world’s economies. It was chaired by a senior executive recruited locally called Norman Hatton. Peter had a strong desire to remain inconspicuous within the framework of the Institute.

Apart from Norman, the key figures in Peter’s life were a teenager called Zoe Hertzberg and a South American woman called Anita Hernandez. As they worked out their emotional issues, the world they were protecting was starting to crumble. While issues in the South China Sea were solved, a disaster in Pakistan and problems with associated terrorist groups threatened to bring Peter to a complete nervous breakdown, and his mental stability was only saved by Zoe. As Anita returned to South America, starvation and a population crash in Egypt required South America to substantially increase food production.

Moving on to the United States and then China, Rekindling of Hope then followed the political and economic problems affecting those countries.

In the end, a new political balance was established.

However, more problems loomed.

PRELUDE

T he communal intelligence known as The Bearing further considered a small water-rich planet on an outer spiral arm of the galaxy. Their initial intervention appeared to have averted immediate catastrophe and established a form of planetary cohesion, but it was clear that further major problems loomed. In particular, there were two major star faring species approaching from different directions, one of which had notably xenophobic tendencies and was becoming powerful.

If the interesting local species was to prosper, further discrete intervention would be necessary. If the guidance was appropriate, a long-term solution to the problems presented by the more xenophobic species was possible, without the Bearing having to use the abhorrent alternative of complete species extinction.

CHAPTER 1

Canadian Holiday

I t was late afternoon at the house in the hills above Melbourne. Zoë looked at her husband with a little concern. Peter looked tired, and he had been stretched out on the sofa for most of the afternoon reading. Normally, he would have been out walking or clearing up something in the garden. After a little thought, she decided that he had become, quite simply, run down. The last nine months at the Institute had been hectic, and the trials and tribulations of looking after the twins were definitely having an effect.

A little shriek of annoyance interrupted her reverie. Katie, nine months old, and just starting to walk, had managed to trip over the heap of toys in the middle of the carpet.

Yelli, Yelli! she shouted, pointing at the yellow babysitting remote which hovered patiently near her. The remote moved over and stood her back on her feet with a pair of feathery hands. Katie tottered towards her mother, obviously expecting some attention. Her brother Tim, rather slower to walk, was carefully placing one small block of wood on top of another. Finally, he took a rectangular piece and placed it on the top, and looked around for approval. Zoë said That’s very nice Tim.

She picked up her daughter, and thought; I think I need to have a chat with my parents.

*     *     *

The following day, she walked around to see them. They were pleasantly surprised to see her, as this was not part of the normal family routine.

Hi Mum and Dad, I’ve come over to ask a favor.

Her parents looked at her with some suspicion. Zoë’s requests for favors had a habit of becoming somewhat open-ended.

I’ve decided that Peter is looking distinctly run down, and I think he needs a holiday.

Valerie looked at her and smiled a little wryly, I suppose that is a veiled request for babysitting services, Zoë!

But Mum, you know you love looking after the twins! Also, you will have Yelli and Bluee to help.

The family had adopted the twins’ names for the two babysitting remotes.

Both parents smiled, and Valerie said, Of course we would love to look after them for a few days Zoë. It was just a few days, wasn’t it?

Well, actually, about two weeks if that’s not too much? I can always get back quickly if you have a problem! You see, I’ve got some news for Peter, but I want to make sure that he is feeling quite relaxed and happy before I tell him. I think it would be a good idea if he has not been woken by the twins at 4 o’clock in the morning for a few days!

*     *     *

That evening, she prepared a particularly nice supper, with a nice glass of wine to go with it. Careful preparation was one of Zoë’s strong points. She broached the subject towards the end of the meal.

Darling, I been thinking that it is time that we had a holiday. A friend of mine suggested that Eastern Canada in late winter is actually an interesting place to go. Anita said there is some quite good skiing there. I know we are not that good, but it would be fun to try it out!

Peter looked at Zoë, and said nothing for a little. Then he smiled and said, "I think it’s an excellent idea. You have undoubtedly put some forward planning into this, so you better let me know the details!

Things seem to be more or less under control at the Institute, and I admit that I have been feeling a little … weary ….. recently. Our two little monsters might have had something to do with that!

He looked up in some alarm, They are not coming with us are they?

Zoë mentally thanked her parents again; No – Mum and Dad have agreed to look after them for two weeks. If we leave in about a week’s time, it will be mid-March, and the worst of the winter cold should have gone, but there will still be plenty of snow around. I will ask Sheila to forge some different identities for us – I had a quiet, anonymous holiday in mind. I thought we should hire a car near Kingston, and stay a few days there. We would then make a little detour up to the Algonquin National Park, and then on to Montréal. We can ask Sheila to pick us up in the car and take us directly to the main areas, which will save a lot of driving. However, I think it would be interesting to actually drive between Montréal and Québec – I’m told the North Shore of the St Lawrence along that route is particularly beautiful.

*     *     *

Zoë and Peter took the children around to Zoë’s parents’ house the following weekend. Zoë noted with a slight pang that her children seemed remarkably unconcerned at the handover. She realised this was illogical – Bluee and Yelli remotes were in close attendance, and the children were really quite familiar with their grandparents. As far as they were concerned, everything would continue much as normal.

Sheila took them directly by shuttle to a discrete location on the outskirts of Kingston, where they could easily walk in and hire a car. They had arranged to rent a small house for three days.

In fact the walk-in was less comfortable than they had planned. There had been an ice storm the previous day, where rain instantly freezes on the surface. All the trees were covered in ice, with many branches and some trees brought down. The snow on the ground, effectively converted to ice, was hard and rutted which made walking quite difficult and dangerous.

The attendant at the car rental shop, recognising them as Australian tourists, had warned them to drive extremely carefully. Even with this warning, Peter nearly succeeded in sliding the car off the road several times before they reached the house.

The following day, they made a driving tour around Kingston. This was a little easier than when they arrived, as it had snowed overnight which had covered up most of the ice.

It proved to be quite a beautiful little city, with many parks and old stone buildings. It also housed Queens University, and the Royal Military College. As it was located at the Eastern end of Lake Ontario, they enjoyed a walk along the shore. They had lunch in a small restaurant in the centre of the town.

The waitress suggested that it might be fun to take the ferry across to Wolfe Island.

If you are lucky tomorrow, you will just catch the breakup of the ice. I’m sure you’ll find it really interesting. There are only two or three days in the year when you can watch the process – after that it is all gone.

In fact, Zoë and Peter found it quite fascinating. The following morning had dawned bright and cold, and after parking the car on the ferry they had walked to the bow. All across the St Lawrence, huge ice flows were starting to drift down the river, but the main part of the lake was still frozen. Apparently the ferry was actually part icebreaker. As it started off, it seemed to them that the helmsman was deliberately aiming at the largest ice flows, some of which were 30 to 40 meters across. As the ferry struck the ice flow, there would be a rather ugly crunching noise and they would see the ice parting on each side of the ferry. Interestingly, at times there was also a little tinkling like the breaking of tiny glasses. With the sun glinting off the snow and ice, and the lovely old buildings of the RMC on the edge of the water, the whole scene was quite beautiful.

Zoë was pleased to see that Peter seemed to be regaining his normal zest for everything.

*     *     *

That night, they planned their route along the North side of the St Lawrence. Just before dawn – they needed to be a little discrete – a remote shaped like a large car trailer with ramps on each end floated down on their drive. After driving the car onto the platform, they were quickly transported to the Eastern side of Montréal, where they were dropped in a quiet street.

Fortunately, the road was clear despite the snow being banked up over a meter high on each side. They made good progress towards Trois Rivières, where they had hired a small apartment. There had been three suggestions from friends on Zoë’s list of things to do – Niagara Falls in winter, wolf howling, and ice fishing. After settling in the apartment, they had lunch in the town, and then discreetly boarded a standard Institute shuttle. They wore their warmest ski gear.

Reaching Niagara Falls mid afternoon, they surprised the local tourists by swooping down on the river and following the rapids towards the main falls. There were still huge ice falls left over from the winter on each side, but hovering only a few tens of meters away from the base of the main torrent was impressive with swirling clouds of mist and spray. The continuous roar was deafening. The shuttle moved backwards and forwards along the base, and then explored the sides, moving close to some of the frozen cascades.

When they had had their fill of river sound and fury, Sheila suggested that as they were still two hours away from darkness, she could arrange a surprise alternative or two.

The shuttle then took off towards the huge glacier calving grounds off Northern Greenland. Both Peter and Zoë were more than impressed, especially when they saw a giant iceberg calve off, creating a mini tsunami. It did not occur to them that Sheila had arranged this with a small explosion deep in the ice.

A quick loop around the North Pole gave them a view of the Aurora Borealis, and then they landed in the Algonquin National Park as darkness fell.

As they stepped out of the shuttle, Sheila warned them to be careful as although there was a hard crust on the top of the snow, if they broke through it was soft underneath. Peter instantly demonstrated this, sinking up to his waist in deep snow to much laughter from Zoë. He was relieved he was wearing full ski gear – the small amount of snow that leaked through the top of his gloves onto his wrist was uncomfortable. It was bitterly cold, and the sky was totally clear and filled with stars.

The plan was to make their own fake wolf howls, when apparently any local pack would howl back as a sort of signalling mechanism. Neither of the two believed a word of this, but the location was so spectacularly beautiful they were quite prepared to forgive the storytellers.

They were a little surprised when the wolves did howl back!

*     *     *

The following day, they drove up towards a little town called Sainte Anne de la Pérade and booked into a motel. Zoë was determined to try her hand at ice fishing. Peter made sure they wore exceptionally warm clothing, and equipped himself with an ebook, a bottle of wine, and a large thermos of hot coffee. As far as he could make out, the idea was to sit in a small cabin in the middle of the river, and dip fishhooks baited with small pieces of liver into a hole cut with a chainsaw in the river ice. Apparently there were large numbers of a small edible fish called Tommy cod migrating up the river. It sounded boring and cold.

In fact, conditions were much better than he expected – the bench in the cabin was reasonably comfortable, there was lighting and a modicum of gas heating, and a sophisticated fish freezing process. One simply dropped any fish caught through an internal letterbox to freeze outside!

Anyhow, they baited the fishing lines provided and dropped them in the water, and Peter prepared for a rather tedious evening.

Two minutes later Zoë squealed; I’ve got one – I’ve got one!

Pulling up the line was a cold wet business without wearing gloves, but at the end of the line there were no less than three Tommy cod well hooked.

Peter then discovered his line was tugging as well.

Two hours later, they realised they must have caught more than 50 small fish and decided to call a halt.

Zoë decided she was an expert fisherperson. Peter just thought the fish must have been suicidally hungry!

They gathered up their gear, dropped all the fish into a large bin bag, and trudged back to their motel room. On the way back, they stopped at the owners’ residence, and gave a surprised Canadian couple a large sackful of fish. They had decided they had none of the equipment or the enthusiasm to gut the fish, yet alone do any cooking.

The following day, they drove into Québec. Although they knew exactly where the Château Frontenac was located, Peter found himself horribly lost in a confusing one-way system. He was still not used to driving on the right, which did not help at all. Eventually, he swallowed his pride and let Sheila direct him to the drop off point at the hotel.

They were quite badly dressed compared with most of the guests when they walked in, and the staff were slightly surprised when Zoë simply asked for the best available suite in the hotel.

When they had changed and freshened up, they took a short walk around the front of the hotel, which had been carefully cleared of snow and ice. As they looked out, Zoë reflected to herself that she had rarely seen a more magnificent building or a better site. The Château was surrounded by the remnants of the city wall, and looked down over a large part of Québec and the St Lawrence. Everything was blanketed in deep snow.

Over the next few days, they enjoyed some inexpert skiing at Mont St Anne, wandered all over the city walls, and tried out a snowmobile just outside the town.

Over dinner on their last evening in Québec, she decided that Peter was looking sufficiently cheerful and relaxed.

Peter, I’ve got a small confession to make. She paused for a moment, and gave him what she hoped was a winning smile. She thought the look that Peter was giving her was a little suspicious, but she pressed on regardless. There is good news, and good news. …… I’m pregnant, and it’s not twins this time!

For a moment, Peter looked a little startled, and then broke out into a large grin and reached over and gave her a thoroughly romantic kiss.

That’s wonderful darling, and this definitely calls for a celebration.

Actually, Peter had not been totally surprised. He had been wondering to